Commonwealth Games opening in Glasgow features royal TARDIS entrance

sportsJul 23, 202635536

At The Hydro in Glasgow King Charles III and Queen Camilla emerged from a TARDIS-themed prop during the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The Games will feature about 3,000 athletes from 74 nations, and organisers said bowls and para-bowls had already started earlier the same day. Gymnastics and swimming are scheduled to begin the following day, extending the programme beyond the ceremony. Actor Sylvester McCoy appeared as The Doctor during the show, and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham joined the King and Queen on stage, according to coverage and eyewitness posts. The ceremony included other high-profile visual moments noted by attendees, such as a giant Tunnock's Teacake on fire, as broadcast and social accounts documented the evening.

Ross McKay

@rossmc11.bsky.social

I'm not saying the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony might be flying under the radar but this happened a good few minutes ago and there wasn't exactly an explosion of posts.

King and Queen emerge from Tardis at Commonwealth Games opening.

15445d ago

Ross McKay9

This would explain why they couldn't do a new episode for Christmas because he's already got a show on that day.

Heather Burns4

Ok but hear me out: seeing the whole world in the city centre again after so many years felt really good today

Peter Ellis2

Long running series at risk of cancellation due to audience apathy and general dislike of newer characters

Richard2

I mean its better that Billie Piper...

Graeme Mackay1

Nice touch! But I think the whole scaled down Commomwealth Games are flying under the radar.

Brian Smith1

The opening ceremony is happening inside the TARDIS?

Quoting this

Stilgherrian11

The reason they’re looking slightly confused is that this isn’t happening in a stadium in Glasgow but in an abandoned field 15 km west of Aberdeen in front of a single photographer from the Evening Express.

E Anderson7

What the heck is going on over there

Andrew Frayn2

I'm a big sports fan who lives in the central belt, and talked earlier this week, with my big sports fan partner who used to work in major events organisation, about how we'd not seen much about the Commonwealth Games, and I STILL didn't know this was happening tonight

Scott Bryan

@scottygb.bsky.social

In case you missed the Commonwealth Games opening it started with King Charles III stepping out of a TARDIS and it ended with a giant tunnock teacake on fire

11045d ago

Rob McManus6

Must be saving the Iron Bru for the closing ceremony

Felix O'Kelly2

So the TARDIS still has that big pop culture status if it's there for the Commonwealth Games!

Quoting this

Callum May3

Somewhere the ghost of Stewart Morris is screaming CUE THE TEACAKE

Slow Down Arthur2

When you get a Danny Boyle from Temu.

The Dobson Family and Colin the Dalek

@dobbersw.bsky.social

Sylvester McCoy is The Doctor! (Again) Delightful to see the 7th Doctor back in action this evening with the King and a global audience potentially larger than anything from his original run. #DoctorWho #CommonwealthGames

6745d ago

The Dobson Family and Colin the Dalek9

And here's the almost full sketch with Sylvester's cameo - it cuts off before we see the other Doctors. (Probably because that's Channel 5's bit) #DoctorWho youtu.be/VsGwZlKuhUM?...

Jonny Morris3

What even Greatest Show in the Galaxy Part Four?

willmill822

Must admit I missed it!

nicola1

That’s left field Where’s Capaldi? #God Sorry Tennant

Politics UK

@politicsuk.com

🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham with the King and Queen at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

1745d ago

Lev Parikian

@levparikian.bsky.social

Watching the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony with half an eye (and about half an hour behind) and with extreme disappointment that the Falklands team spurned the obvious flag/slogan opportunity

2145d ago

Elizabeth Smith

@smithelizabeth.bsky.social

Sam performing during the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games- Glasgow, Scotland. Photo on left by Ross MacDonald-SNS Group-Getty Images. Photo on right by Mattia Ozbot/ Getty Images. #SamHeughan #GlasgowCommonwealthGames

1445d ago

Stravaigin-laddie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@costadelclyde.bsky.social

Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Cameras constantly showing our odious royals and PM Burnham. Anyone seen and Scottish politicians or even our first minister?

645d ago

Paul_R 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿3

What is Eddie doing there? It's the Commonwealth Games not It's a Knockout! Did he get the wrong invitation?

Bridget 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺🇮🇪2

The head of the Commonwealth games just called John Swinney 'First Prime Minister.'

Antony Carpen

@acarpen.bsky.social

Turns out you can watch the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on BBC Alba www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live... King & Queen stepping out of the Tardis at 20:04

1045d ago

@shortbreadfairy.bsky.social

The Hydro has gone nuts at the Scottish Team at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 🤣

845d ago

Disappointing Lego Flags

@legoflags.bsky.social

Enjoying the #CommonwealthGames opening ceremony, especially the discovery that #Nauru has become #Naoero. I’ll be there in a couple of days! (The Commonwealth Games, not Naoero) 🇳🇷

1245d ago

Ariadne Griffin

@ariadnereviews.bsky.social

The giant fire spewing Tunnock's Tea Cake feels like what it must be like to finally gaze upon one of the Seraphim #CommonwealthGames

745d ago

Anna

@tgannawade.bsky.social

Great to see KT Tunstall again. It's been so long! Looks totally fab and on top form! 😃♥️ #CommonwealthGames

645d ago

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Brian McG.⭐⭐🇺🇦🇵🇸 🇬🇱

@br1mcg.bsky.social

Considering the organisers had to look behind the sofa for loose change to set the thing up, a decent opening ceremony.. infinitely better than whatever that was at half time on Sunday #commonwealthgames

745d ago

Past Glasgow

@pastglasgow.co.uk

All things considered, it wasn't bad. I reserve the right to change my opinion if this doesn't finish off with Deacon Blue singing Dignity. #CommonwealthGames

745d ago

Caron Lindsay

@caronmlindsay.bsky.social

Watching the Commonwealth Games Opening ceremony on BBC Alba. The channel will have the action every evening free to air. Lovely ceremony, masterminded by a team of brilliant women. #commonwealthganes2026

645d ago

debmacc.bsky.social1

What is BBC Alba and how can i watch it? I am watching on Ch 5 but they keep cutting to long advert breaks...during a live broadcast. Very disrespectful espe ially for the athletes,as they even did this whilst they were entering the stadium,so there were some Acrican countries we didnt get to see.

David Warren1

They used to do very good rugby union coverage.

3 sources

bbc.co.ukCommonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow LIVE - updates, pictures and colour from the Opening Ceremony at The Hydro royalwatcherblog.comKing Charles III and Queen Camilla at Glasgow Commonwealth Games mirror.co.ukCharles and Camilla emerge from Tardis at Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

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Commonwealth Games opening in Glasgow features royal TARDIS entrance

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